For immediate release: February 3, 2009

Note: The spelling, audism, is correct.

BLOOMSBURG — A program on "Sensory Orientation and Sensory Politics" will be offered Saturday, Feb. 7, at noon in McCormick Center, room 1313, as part of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Deaf Lecture Series. The event is free for the BU community, $10 for all other students and $17.50 for members of Pennsylvania Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PARID) members.

The presenters are Ben Bahan and H-Dirksen L. Bauman. Bahan, a storyteller, author, researcher, professor and presenter on issues related to deaf studies, was born and raised in New Jersey and attended the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf. He graduated from Gallaudet University in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in biology and later received his master's degree from Boston University. He has also authored numerous books and videotapes.

Bauman is professor and director of the graduate program in deaf studies at Gallaudet University. He is co-editor of "Signing the Body Poetic: Essays in American Sign Language Literature," executive editor of Deaf Studies Digital Journal and executive producer and co-director of the documentary film, "Audism Unveiled."

The Deaf Lecture Series is sponsored by the American Sign Language/English Interpreting Program, Northeast Pennsylvania Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and Pennsylvania Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 8,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Professional Studies, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.